The issue isn't necessarily that they're open 24/7. It's that they offload all of the risk and management of that onto their franchises. If a local 7-Eleven has trouble hiring people to work late night shifts, then the expectation is that the owner is supposed to work it 24/7. You MUST be open 24/7 every single day of the year and as the article demonstrates, shutting down for even a day means losing everything.
I'm not surprised to see people on HN defend such incredibly hostile and toxic work environments, but I am disappointed. Why don't you try working such hours and see how things work out for you and your family?